The ins and outs of hiring a nanny.
By Brooke Tseng
So you’re thinking of hiring a nanny? Good choice! Speaking as both a nanny and a mommy, I, personally, feel that a quality nanny is an excellent child care choice. But every family is different, as wells as their child care needs. Your first step should be deciding whether or not a nanny is the right solution for your family. There are many pros and cons to consider. Below are a few.
Pros:
- Your child will receive one-on-one care and his individual interests can be catered to.
- Care can happen in your home, therefore you are in control of the cleanliness and safety of the environment.
- Your child may feel more secure in his own home environment.
- Your child can keep his normal routines.
- Your child can bond with one special person who will (hopefully) care for him for a long while.
- Because the nanny is entering onto your turf, you can have more control over your child’s care and can request the nanny follow specific routines and child-rearing philosophies.
- You and the nanny can become a “team” and both work together in raising an amazing little person.
- Some nannies also might perform light housework, cooking, and pet care- this varies from nanny to nanny.
- Because the child care happens in your home, you don’t have to transport your child to and from a daycare center, which saves both time and gas.
- If you are comfortable with outings, children can experience museums, parks, zoos, enrichment classes, and other fun activities during the day.
- If your child is under the age of 2, he will especially benefit from the nurturing presence a nanny can bring. Babies and toddlers need this individualized, attentive care which is difficult to replicate in a larger daycare situation.
Cons:
- Nannies can be more expensive than other forms of child care
- In many situations, nannies are alone with the child, therefore raising some safety risks- background checks and references should be a must. Also, never underestimate your gut instinct.
- Nannies have only you to answer to- you have to do the quality control and address any situation that needs attenting to.
- Children may not have other kids to interact with – playgroups are a wonderful way to solve this.
- Sometimes if the nanny becomes a close part of the family, employer/employee lines can become blurred.
There are pros and cons to every child care situation, but overall, I feel that the right nanny can help a young child blossom into a secure, bright individual. Here are some tips in finding the right nanny for you.
Some things to consider before interviewing:
- What is the age range of nannies you are looking for?
- What will the job entail? Housework? Cooking? Driving?
- Will you pay for days off? Holidays? Sick Days? Vacations?
- How will you handle taxes?
- What qualities are you looking for in a nanny?
- Do you want a live-in or live-out nanny?
- What privileges will you allow the nanny at work? Food? TV? Computer?
- What monetary range are you expecting to pay?
Questions you might ask the nanny:
- Years of experience?
- Age range they have cared for?
- Have they nannied for any special circumstances? Multiple children? Special needs children?
- Highest level of education?
- Any child-development education-related education?
- CPR/first aide certified?
- Do they keep current with child care advice and recommendations?
- What types of activities would they do with your child?
- How many families have they worked for?
- Why did they leave their previous jobs?
- What is their policy for overtime or evenings/weekends?
- What is their discipline style?
- Are they familiar with any of the child-rearing philosophies that you use?
Qualities to look for in a nanny:
- Interest in/comfort around your child.
- Appearance/hygiene.
- Organization.
- Respect for and interest in your child-rearing philosophies.
- Confidence in their abilities.
Remember that a nanny is a child care professional. She should put her heart and mind towards keeping your child safe, happy, and engaged during the time he is in her care. She can do a better job of this if she, herself, is happy and feels that her work is appreciated and respected.
Tips in keeping a good nanny (if you can afford):
- Competitive pay with raises.
- Holiday bonuses.
- Paid time off.
- Pay towards health insurance.
- Respecting their time- not coming home late, or requesting too much overtime or weekends.
- Communication!! I recommend a note book for both parties to jot down notes of children and the house.
So how do you find a nanny? Many people feel most confident in using nanny agencies. Others look through newspaper and online classifieds, or college classifieds. Others post their own ads and wait for responses. You can do this all on our site SitterShop.com. Just be sure to always check backgrounds and references. Best wishes in your child care search!
Share your tips and experiences on hiring a nanny.